Fluid system and method for coding information

ABSTRACT

A fluid system wherein diverse fluids are injected into a small diameter line such that when their relative positions are thereafter sensed they can be used in data processing operations. The injected fluids are thus used for memory, correspondence, control, and measurement purposes.

United States Patent [191 J acobsen FLUID SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CODING INFORMATIQN [76] Inventor: Stephen C. Jacobsen, 839 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84122 22 Filed: Aug. 28, 1968 211 App1.No.: 756,037

[52] U.S. Cl. 137/1; 137/605; 137/816; 73/205 R [51] Int. Cl. Fl7d 3/02 [58] Field of Search 137/8l.5, 1, 605; 235/201; 73/30, 205, 211, 212, 213; 23/230, 253;

[56 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,001,865 4/1935 Brand] 73/30 July 22, 1975 2,217,641 10/1940 .lunklns 73/30 X 3,047,367 7/1962 Kessler 23/230 3,109,714 11/1963 Skeggs 23/253 3,417,770 12/1968 Denison 137/8l.5

5/1969 King et a1. 137/[ Primary Examiner-William R. Cline Attorney, Agent, or F irmCriddle & Thorpe [57] ABSTRACT A fluid system wherein diverse fluids are injected into a small diameter line such that when their relative positions are thereafter sensed they can be used in data processing operations. The injected fluids are thus used for memory, correspondence, control, and measurement purposes.

13 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEnJuLzz ms SHEET FIGI Q :Qi:

R27 3 FIG 2 F L- J l A TRANSDUCER Q42 44 L INVENTOR. STEPHEN C. JACOBSEN.

ATTORNEY PATENTEDJUL22 ms .is 895 e41 SHEET 2 FIG 5 46' 47 TRANSDUCER INVENTOR.

STEPHEN C. JACOBSEN.

ATTORNEY FLUID SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CODING INFORMATION BRIEF DESCRIPTION Recently, there has developed an awareness of the utility of fluidsystems as an operating and control medium in data processing and other systems. So far as I am aware, the systems utilizing fluids for such purposes have, for the most part, been limited to those that can be made up of fluid logic components or modifications thereof, such as fluid oscillators, wherein a single control fluid is used. In US. Pat. No. 3,348,562, however, there is shown apparatus in which a mixture of fluids is used as the operating fluid for a variable frequency fluid oscillator, and in US. Pat. No. 3,321,955, two differen t gasses are used in a fluid analog to digital converter. In this latter patent the gasses are disclosed as being'rnixed and a frequency of a whistle is varied in accordance with changes in compressibility of the mixed gas composition.

To the best of my knowledge, there has not heretofore 'been developed a simple fluid system wherein pro grammed, diverse, non-mixing, fluids are utilized to store and retrieve information and/or to perform programmed control and communication functions.

It is an object of this invention to provide a fluid system that utilizes a minimum number of mechanical parts and that is therefore simple to construct, but that can be used to store and retrieve information and/or to control an operation in accordance with coded infor mation provided in the system in the form of diverse fluids. Another object is to provide a system wherin the diverse fluid arrangement used to determine information input can be used for control and/or communication functions or information retrieval, while simultaneously regenerating the arrangement for further storage or for repeated uses in control, communication, or information retrieval.

It is a principal feature of the invention that plural diverse fluids are arranged sequentially in a line such that the frequency of appearance or the inermittent length of each fluid can be representative of a predetermined type of information or of a regulating function. The fluids used are selected to be non-miscible under the conditions of use, and the lines in which the fluids are maintained are of sufficiently small inner diameter that the fluids readily maintain their assigned lengths and positions. The lines are arranged into systems such that desired objectives can be obtained. Thus, a single line can be connected to diverse fluid sources'and be used to receive the diverse fluids in a program sequence indicative of the desired information to be stored or in a program sequence to be used in performing a regulating function. The line can then be removed, and stored, with the fluids programmed therein until it is required for information-retrieval or for a control or communi cation function, or for multiple uses. The line can be of any length and can be straight, curved, or coiled.

Retrieval of the stored information can be achieved in many different ways. For example, the line can be connected to a sensing means and the fluids passed from the line to the sensing means where a detection device produces a signal that is dependent upon the characteristics of the fluid flowed past the detection device. Alternatively, a sensing means can be inserted into the line and through the fluids such that a detection device in the sensing means produces a signal that varies with the characteristics of the fluids it is passed through. Still another system forretrieving information programmed in the line is to sense the fluid pattern through the line, either with a detector, past or through which the line is moved, or by moving a detector past the line.

A line containing multiple programmed fluids can be connected to a device for sensing the diverse fluids and as the fluids are discharged from the line and the programmed pattern of the diverse fluids is sensed, the pattem is regenerated and is again fed into the line. Should it be so desired, the pattern sensed can be used to regenerate an alternate pattern, with the pattern and the alternate pattern then being sequentially put into and discharged from the line. i 1

With the present invention, a single bitof inforrnation may be slow to be detected, as compared with known generating and transmitting systems, but the overall data detection rate is much faster and the data can be readily stored.

Additional objects and features will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings, disclosing what are presently contemplated as being the best modes of the invention.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic, plan view, of one typical apparatus used to provide data input, in the form of diverse fluids, to a typical storage line;

FIG. 2, a similar view of another data input system;

FIG. 3, a view of still another data input system; 1

FIG. 4, a view of one arrangement of detection apparatus used to retrieve data from a typical storage line;

FIG. 5, a view like FIG. 4, but showing another arrangement of detection apparatus;

FIG. 6, a view schematically showing another type of detection apparatus, that is also ideally adapted to performing a programmed control function; and

FIG. 7, a view schematically showing a time-delayed regenerating system wherein the fluid programmed into a typical storage line is detected and is discharged for use, and the programmed pattern is repeated into the storage line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings:

In FIG. 1 there is shown a gas input line 20 and a liquid input line 21, both feeding fluids, under pressure from conventional sources, not shown, to a control unit 22. The control unit, shown schematically, can be any conventional valve unit capable of blocking flow through both lines 20 and 21 either simultaneously or alternatively, and for directing flow from both lines to a single discharge port 23.

The control unit can be mechanically, electrically or fluid operated, as desired.

A data storage line 24 is adapted to be removably connected to the discharge port 23 and to receive gas and liquid passed through the control unit 22. Line 24 can be of any desired or required length and can be straight, curved, or coiled, as desired. The inner diameter of the line 24 is small enough that the fluids used will not mix. It has been found for example, that where the fluids used are water and air, a glass line having an inner diamter of one-sixteenth of an inch is very suitable. A conventionalvalve (not shown) can be provided at each -*end.,2of-,the, line to prevent loss of fluids during zhan dlinglor storage.

' ce with theinvention, virtually-any desired analogor digital. system of data storage canbe utilized-Either, a. gas or a liquid, canbe used for data, representation andanot-he-rfluid can be used for data separation. Theifluid representing data can then befed into the'.data s,torage line such thateither its length, under a known pressure, between increments of data separation-:fluid,.or the frequency of its occurrancec an-be indicative of the information represented.

O't'hermethods of programming information into the datastoriage line are shown in FIGS. 2, and 3. In FIG. 2', the data storage line is removably connected to oneendofa restricted through section 26, the other end of which is connected to a conduit 27, leading from iln operatiomin'accord' {mums of liq uid 2 8,.under pressure. A .conduit 29, is

conne'cted into a Venturi throat section 26 and to a source-of gas -30', un,dera-higher pressure, and a valve 31;. vv'hic'hniay'bemechanically, electrically, or fluid operated is provided in the conduit 29 to regulate flow of g'a'sinto the Ven-turithroat section. Each time the valve 31 isibpened gas flows into the Venturi throat sectiongtiher e by blocking flow of the liquid. By proper operation ofthe valve a sequential pattern of liquid and gas can be put into the data storage line that is representatijef o'f data to be stored and/or thereafter used.

' 3,131 fluidic device, shown generally at 32 is "t olflow'of a liquid from a source of liquid 33,, under'pressure, into a Venturi throat section 34 of a fluidic deviee Ore end of the throat section is released to the data storage line 35 and the other is-cpn ne ctedto a conduit 36 leading from a source of liquidgunder pressure.

=In.operation, flow through the fluidic device 32, from source 33 to either leg 37 or leg 38 is controlled by impinging side flows from either line 39 or line 40. Such fluid d'evicesare well knownand its operation will not bediscussed here in detail. In this invention, however, a conduit 41 interconnects the throat section 34 and the leg-37 sov that when flow is through leg 37, from source. 33, a pressure is created in the leg 37 and there is no inputthrough conduit 41 to the throat section. If, however, flow from, source 33 is switched into leg 38, thelpressure in leg 37 is reduced and air is drawn in through ,the leg 37 and conduit 41, to the throat section.

Proper control of fluidic device 32 will, therefore, provide a sequence of liquid and air that is representative of information to be stored.

The information stored in the data storage lines can be retrieved in many ways. In FIG. 4, there is shown a retrievel system, including a conventional pressure transducer 42, arranged to sense the pressure upstream of a restriction 43. The data storage line 44, containing the programmed fluids, is connected to a constant volume pump 43 that will force the fluids from the line, through the restriction 45 to which the other end of the data storage line is connected. As the data fluids are passedthrough the restriction, the pressure transducer senses the nature of the fluid. A higher pressure is developed upstream of the restriction when liquid is forced'through than when agas is forced through, so the'pressure reading of the transducer is indicative of the fluid-beingmoved through the restriction.

K In FIG; 5, there is shown another means of sensing the fluid pattern contained in a data storage line 46. In

this arrangement, an eduction nozzle 47 is inserted into a line 48 into which line 46 is discharged with the nozzle turned downstream. The education nozzle is then connected to a conventional transducer 49 that will sense pressure changes in the nozzle. Since liquid passing the eduction nozzle will create a greater suction than will gas, the presence and extent of each medium passing the nozzle is readily determined.

It is also possible to sense the stored data and to use a signal from the sensing device directly for control or communication purposes. The signal can also be amplifled, as required, in conventionalfashion prior to its use. A system for performing this function is shown in FIG. 6, where the sensing device is. a fluidic device 50, one side diverter conduit 51 of whichislconne'cted to a line 52 that receives flow from the data storage line 53, at a location just upstream of a restriction 54,: to which the data storing line is connected. A punip, such as is shown in FIG. 4 but which is not shown in FIG.. :6, or other suitable pressure device, is used tomove the programmed fluids through the restriction. I

As liquid is forced through the restriction 54 an increased pressure develops upstream in the line 52,janid this pressure is transmitted through conduit 51 to,

56. When air is moved through the restriction, the..bac k pressure developed in the data storage line is reduced and is insufficient to continue the flow through leg 56 of the fluidic device 50. Thus, the flow is switche'dback to leg 55. The flows through the legs 54 and SSar'in} dicative of the information stored and these flows can be amplified, if desired, using other conventionalfluid amplifiers and can be translated using any suitable readout device.

While not shown, it should be apparent that instead of a pressure sensing device utilizing a restriction for sensing stored information, other devices, such as a sensing device utilizing an eduction tube of the type shown in FIG. 5, could as well be used.

In FIG. 7 there is shown a system wherein the pattern of stored fluids can be automatically repeated, even as the fluids are. used for information retrieval or control; As shown, a pressure source 57 pumps a fluid through a throat section 58 to force programmed fluids from a data storage line 59 that is connected between a line 60 at the end of the throat section opposite the pressure source and a discharge line 61.

In practice, as the programmed data fluids pass an eductor tube 62, connected to a diverter line 63 of a fluidic device 64, they control flow through the legs and 66 of the device. Thus, as a luquid passes the eductor tube 62 the flow through fluidic device 64 is drawn from leg 65 to leg 66 and then since no air is being drawn into throat section 58 a corresponding amount of liquid is fed into the data storage line. When a body of gas, separating data bits, passes the eductor tube 62, however, the flow through the device is returned to leg 65 and a corresponding amount of air is drawn in through the leg 65 and the throat section to be moved into the data storage line 59.

Obviously, each time a liquid or gas date input from the discharge end of the data storage line passes the eductor tube a corresponding liquid or gas data input is fed into the intake end of the data storage line, even though the fluids passing the eductor tube may thereafter be used for information retrievel, signalling, control or other purposes, without the necessity for returning them to the data storage line. This system will have an inherent time delay because of the lag between sensing of the fluid at the eductor tube and the input of fluids through the throat section, but in most systems this will be of no concern and in some instances the time delay, as represented by flow through the legs of the fluidic device 64, can be utilized concurrently with the discharge from the data storage line.

A great many variations are possible using the disclosed systems either singly or with others. Naturally, the system used will be dependent upon the demands of the overall system in which it is used. For example, such factors as the speed required for propagation and detection of the data, whether or not the data must be repeatedly used and stored and, the nature of the data itself, will enter into the design of any particular system utilizing the invention.

.The fluids used will be selected in accordance with the use to be made of the system, but for many purposes water can be effectively used as the data medium, with air as the data separating fluid and oil as the control fluid.

In some cases the device used to detect the stored data will depend for its operation upon the conducitivity or other characteristic of fluids and appropriate fluids must be selected and used to give accurate readings.

Although preferred forms of my invention have been herein disclosed, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is made by way of example and that variations are possible, without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, which subject matter I regard as my invention.

1 claim:

I 1. A fluid system comprising a data storage line;

a plurality of diverse fluids that are non-miscible in the said line;

means for feeding said fluids into the line such that at least one said fluid is representative of data bits and another separates the said data bits; and

means for disconnecting said storage line from said means for feeding said fluids into th the line, whereby said line and the fluids therein may be stored without disrupting the fluid order in said line.

2. A fluid system according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the line is so small that mixing of the fluids is precluded.

3. A fluid system according to claim 1, wherein the means for feeding the diverse fluids into the data storage line includes a source of liquid;

means for feeding said liquid under pressure into the data storage line;

a fluidic device having a source of fluid under pressure, a pair of alternate discharge legs and means for changing flow from one of said legs to the other; and

means interconnecting one of the legs of the fluidic device and the input to the data storage line, whereby flow through the said one leg blocks input of a data bit separating fluid to the data storage line and when flow is diverted to the other leg a data bit separating fluid flows into the data storage line.

4. A fluid system according to claim I, further includ ing means for detecting the diverse fluids in the storage line as being representative of the data put into the line.

5. A fluid system as in claim 4, further including means for disconnecting the storage line from the means for detecting the diverse fluids in the storage line, whereby said line and the fluids therein may be stored without disrupting the fluid order in said line.

6. A fluid system according to claim 5, wherein the means for detecting the diverse fluids in the storage line as being representative of the data put into the line comprises a restriction through which the diverse fluids are flowed from the data storageline; and

means, responsive to pressure changes as the fluids are flowed through the restriction.

7. A fluid system according to claim 5, wherein the means for detecting the diverse fluids in the storage line as being representative of the data put into. the line comprises an eduction nozzle inserted into a line through which the fluids are flowed from the data storage line; and means responsive to pressure changes in the said eduction nozzle. 8. A fluid system as in claim 1, wherein the diverse fluids comprise water and air.

9. A method for coding information which comprises the steps of selecting a plurality of diverse fluids tobe non-miscible under the conditions of their use;

feeding said fluids into a small diameter data storage line such that one fluid serves as a data separation fluid to separate bits of data and a characteristic of at least one other of the said fluids is indicative of data bits;

removing the line such that additional fluids are not fed thereinto and maintaining the fluids fed into the line in their positions in which they are fed thereinto; and

thereafter detecting the relative positions of the fluids in the line as being indicative of information provided by the data bits.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein the relative positions of the fluids in the line are detected by flowing the fluids from the line past a sig nal generating detector.

11. A method as in claim 9, wherein the relative positions of the fluids in the line are detected by moving the line past a signal generating detector.

12. A method as in claim 9, wherein the relative positions of the fluids in the line are detected by moving a signal generating detector along the line.

13. A method as in claim 9, wherein the relative positions of the fluids in the line are detected by inserting a signal generating detector into the line. 

1. A fluid system comprising a data storage line; a plurality of diverse fluids that are non-miscible in the said line; means for feeding said fluids into the line such that at least one said fluid is representative of data bits and another separates the said data bits; and means for disconnecting said storage line from said means for feeding said fluids into th the line, whereby said line and the fluids therein may be stored without disrupting the fluid order in said line.
 2. A fluid system according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the line is so small that mixing of the fluids is precluded.
 3. A fluid system according to claim 1, wherein the means for feeding the diverse fluids into the data storage line includes a source of liquid; means for feeding said liquid under pressure into the data storage line; a fluidic device having a source of fluid under pressure, a pair of alternate discharge legs and means for changing flow from one of said legs to the other; and means interconnecting one of the legs of the fluidic device and the input to the data storage line, whereby flow through the said one leg blocks input of a data bit separating fluid to the data storage line and when flow is diverted to the other leg a data bit separating fluid flows into the data storage line.
 4. A fluid system according to claim 1, further including means for detecting the diverse fluids in the storage line as being representative of the data put into the line.
 5. A fluid system as in claim 4, further including means for disconnecting the storage line from the means for detecting the diverse fluids in the storage line, whereby said line and the fluids therein may be stored without disrupting the fluid order in said line.
 6. A fluid system according to claim 5, wherein the means for detecting the diverse fluids in the storage line as being representative of the data put into the line comprises a restriction through which the diverse fluids are flowed from the data storage line; and means, responsive to pressure changes as the fluids are flowed through the restriction.
 7. A fluid system according to claim 5, wherein the means for detecting the diverse fluids in the storage line as being representative of the data put into the line comprises an eduction nozzle inserted into a line through which the fluids are flowed from the data storage line; and means responsive to pressure changes in the said eduction nozzle.
 8. A fluid system as in claim 1, wherein the diverse fluids comprise water and air.
 9. A method for coding information which comprises the steps of selecting a plurality of diverse fluids to be non-miscible under the conditions of their use; feeding said fluids into a small diameter data storage line such that one fluid serves as a data separation fluid to separate bits of data and a characteristic of at least one other of the said fluids is indicative of data bits; removing the line such that additional fluids are not fed thereinto and maintaining the fluids fed into the line in their positions in which they are fed thereinto; and thereafter detecting the relative positions of the fluids in the line as being indicative of information provided by the data bits.
 10. A method as in claim 9, wherein the relative positions of the fluids in the line are detected by flowing the fluids from the line past a signal generating detector.
 11. A method as in claim 9, wherein the relative positions of the fluids in the line are detected by moving the line past a signal generating detector.
 12. A method as in claim 9, Wherein the relative positions of the fluids in the line are detected by moving a signal generating detector along the line.
 13. A method as in claim 9, wherein the relative positions of the fluids in the line are detected by inserting a signal generating detector into the line. 